52 million people are now using Facebook in Bangladesh. 130 million people are connected to the internet to get information or news. But miscreants are spreading confusion using this digital platform. Spreading fake news and rumors without checking facts. ICT department’s a2i project and Human Development Media are working to prevent this. But as official fact checkers are not trusted internationally, independent fact checking platforms are being supported. As a part of this, ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak inaugurated the ‘PIB-eLearning Platform’ by getting connected online on Sunday.
The State Minister inaugurated this platform after a three-day training workshop on fact-checking in journalism with the members of Technology Media Guild Bangladesh (TMGB) at the conference center of Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) building adjacent to Circuit House in the capital.
Meanwhile, the state minister said that the Center for Four IRs will be established in Dhaka jointly with the World Economic Forum in the coming month of December. He said, the center set up by the ICT Division will include opportunities for media workers to conduct workshops on robotics, AI, ML or data analytics for journalists.
TMGB General Secretary Mursalin Haque Junaid moderated PIB Director General Zafar Wazed and TMGB President Kaushar Uddin spoke on the occasion. PIB trainer Nasimul Ahsan conducted the training program.
While speaking as the Chief Guest on the occasion, Zunaid Ahmed Palak said that news is being cast through machine learning technology in this era of fourth industrial revolution. Instead of humans, we are seeing humanoid robots. There is no way to ignore this change. Efforts should be made to empower journalist friends about these technologies. For this reason, initiative has been taken to launch a special fellowship with AIT Thailand.
To reflect public opinion and constructive criticism on social media, a new section called Janata Sarkar Platform-Muktmancha, Say to the Prime Minister, Say You Too and Give Opinions will be launched, said the ICT State Minister.
Addressing PIB Director General, Palak said, I will make a modern Sheikh Russell Digital Lab in PIB as soon as possible. A branch of the National Digital Library under construction will be set up.